Utah National Parks...help!!!!
 

hi all,

I need help deciding on the routes to these NP. Capital Reef, Canyonland, and Arches. I will be coming from Vegas. Would it be faster going from I15 to I70 or thru the I15 to I 14 to etc avoiding most of the Intersate HW. I have a whole week planned for this trip. Also when heading back home, what are your thoughts about going from Moab to Monument Valley and back to Vegas. I want to get the most out of this trip. one last thing, how long does it take from Vegas to Arches. Thank you so much in advance. Oh this trip will be on the week of April 17.

You are looking at about a 9 hour drive from Vegas to Moab. Fastest route would be I15 to I70 to H191. I would suggest that you go back to Vegas through Zion's NP and not to Monument Valley (take the back roads from Capital Reef to Zions).

Las Vegas to Moab is 457 miles and 6.5 hours on Mapquest. If you want to see Capitol Reef and do Monument Valley, I'd suggest visiting Capitol Reef on your way to Moab. Leave the park on 24, and take that back to I-70 just west of Green River. If you want to see a remote section of Canyonlands (Horseshoe Canyon), you can access it via a dirt road off of 24.

On the way back to Las Vegas after Monument Valley, you can decide if you have the time/desire to see Bryce and/or Zion.

To get from Vegas to Moab in 6.5 hours would mean driving over 70 miles an hour without a break (or brake) for gas, lunch or the often horrible Vegas traffic. Eight hours would be the minimum amount of time I would budget. Monument Valley is beautiful, but getting there and back makes for a long-trip. Don't forget to schedule some time for Dead Horse Point State Park close to Arches and Canyonlands.

You might be catching the end of the Jeep Safari in Moab - when the whole place is crawling with Jeeps and Jeepsters.

I15 to I70 is certainly the fastest way. As suggested, I'd rather take 9 through Zion up to 89 and then cut over on 12 past Bryce Canyon up to Capitol Reef. Highway 12 between Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef is incredibly beautiful and not to be missed if you can help it. From Capitol Reef, I would continue on 24 to 70, and would make sure to stop off at Goblin Valley State Park for a quick looksee - very cool place.

What does your day-by-day itinerary look like? Did you want to stop for the night in Capitol Reef or were you looking for one big push all the way to Moab from Vegas?

I've done Moab to Monument Valley to Vegas, and it takes a while. Expect about 4 hours to get from Moab to Monument Valley with stops - longer if you go via Natural Bridges National Monument and take the hair-raising Moki Dugway down.

Monument Valley to Page, Az or South Rim, Grand Canyon is another 4 hours. South Rim, Grand Canyon to Vegas is about 5 hours.

I dunno - it seems like a lot of driving to me.

Lifelist,

I really like your idea on taking 9 through Zion up to 89 and then cut over on 12 past Bryce Canyon up to Capitol Reef. Highway 12...I think I will do that ( since I do love nature and scenaries). Oh btw, how long will this take. I reall don't have an itinerary. Was going to plan that once I know which route I will take. Any help with that would be great. I'm open to staying in capital reef. It's gonna be one of those trips where I'm just going to wing it. Crazy, huh.
As for driving back. I guess I really don't have a choice then to drive back via I70 to I15. I have time but not weeks. Jut Sat to Sat. Thanks again.

In April you are going to have about 13 hours of daylight.

From Las Vegas to Arches (Moab, Utah) the fastest way would be I-15 and I-70. I-70 between Fremont Jct. and Green River takes you through the scenic San Rafael Swell. This is 465 miles and at the very least 6 1/2 hours driving time.

From Moab via Monument Valley to Las Vegas the quickest way is South on Hwy 191, 163, 160, 89, and then west on I-40, up 93. This is 573 miles and about 11 hours of just driving.

If you have a week, I'd suggest the more scenic route that lifelist suggested.

I-15, Hyw 9 thru Zion, then 89 up to scenic hwy 12 up to Torrey. Spend the night in Torrey, Utah. Las Vegas to Torrey is 366 miles and a good 8 hour drive without stopping at the scenic places.

From Torrey to Moab, Utah is 175 miles and approx 3 1/2 hour drive.

Spend as many days in Moab as possible but allow for one more night on the road at Page, AZ. From Moab head south on Hwy 191. See Monument Valley and then head south on Hwy 163, west on Hwy 160, then take hwy 98 into Page, AZ. Spend the night.

Do the short Horseshoe Bend hike before leaving for Las Vegas. Take Hwy 89 to Kanab, then Alt 89 down to Fredonia and Hwy's 389 and 59 back to Hurricane, Utah and the retrace hwy 9 and I-15 back to Las Vegas. This route is a little longer but IMHO more scenic than going down to I-40.

Utahtea

Thanks a bunch Utahtea. Do you think i can do all that in a week?? take the scenic route to Moab and them head toward Monument valley when I leave. Also, do I need a SUV or will a sedan work. I can get more mileage per a tank of gas. Don't want to be stranded in the middle of now where and not familiar with the road conditions.

A standard sedan should work. There are some dirt roads to explore in Capitol Reef, but if you stick to the easy ones, you should be fine. The Cathedral Valley loop is excellent, but has a river crossing and really requires a high-clearance vehicle.

The dirt roads in Monument Valley aren't that bad and they restrict you to the easy ones anyway. If you're concerned, you can always just hire a guide to drive you around.

It's a lot of driving, but it can be done in a week. I would probably do something like this:

Saturday: Las Vegas to Bryce
Sunday: Bryce to Moab
Monday: Arches/Canyonlands
Tuesday: Arches/Canyonlands
Wednesday: Arches/Canyonlands
Thursday: Moab to Monument Valley
Friday: Monument Valley to Page/GC
Saturday: Page/GC to Las Vegas

Las Vegas to Bryce on the first day allows a fairly leisurely travel day. It's only 2-3 hours to Zion from Vegas, so you can spend a bit of time hiking in Zion and catching lunch before heading up to Bryce. Bryce isn't very far from Zion. Stay at Ruby's outside of Bryce or camp, and then catch the sunrise over the Bryce Canyon ampitheater. Take your time driving up Highway 12 up to Capitol Reef and maybe do one of the dirt road loops through the park before continuing on to Moab.

Spend 2-3 days doing Arches and Canyonlands. Arches is right next to Moab and easy to access. It takes about an hour to get to anywhere in Canyonlands from Moab. You'll want to do a sunset at Delicate Arch and a sunset or sunrise at Deadhorse Point State Park.

Moab to Monument Valley should take about 4 hours. I don't like to drive any more than that on a roadtrip on any given day, so I would stop and stay at Monument Valley. Late afternoon and early morning drives in Monument Valley.

At this point, you can either go back to Vegas via Page or South Rim, Grand Canyon. My preference is for Grand Canyon.

The other option of returning from Moab to Vegas via 70 to 15 gives you more time in fewer parks. You'll spend less time in your car driving. If you're playing it by ear, you can decide when you get to Moab what you want to do.

Lifelist, how long is the drive from Bryce to Moab? I really want to thank everyone on helping me plan this trip. I can't wait. Any comments on the weather during mid April. I will be bring my tents and sleeping bag. Just incase i want to camp or if the hotel is too expensive.

I am loving this advice as I am planning a similar trip. Any tips on where to stay outside Las Vegas at the end of the trip. Our flight is in mid-morning so I don't want to drive from Page to the airport. I don't want to stay in Vegas the last night either. Ideas?

Haven't done that much traveling in April. I think you could get a wide range of temps and weather in April.

I don't think I would want to camp in Bryce in a tent in April. I hear the hiking paths still have snow on them. The elevation is in the 8,000 ft. range. Zion on the other hand is at the 4,000 ft. range and there are two very nice campgrounds in the park, South and Watchman.

Capitol Reef is one of our favorite campgrounds but elevation is in the 6,000 so it could get cold at night.

Moab will have the best range of campgrounds from private to National Parks to BLM campgrounds. BUT keep in mind that April is a very busy time for the Moab area, expecially during spring school breaks for 4 x 4 trail lovers!

If you don't plan on going off road, a regular vehicle will be fine. Even with 4 x 4 you don't want to go on dirt roads when they are wet or rain is coming.

From Bryce to Moab is 275 miles and will take approx. 7 1/2 hours of driving.

Utahtea

Dianne,

Springdale, Utah just outside of Zion National Park is 170 miles and just 3 hours to the Las Vegas Airport.

St. George, Utah is 130 miles and just 2 hours to the Las Vegas Airport. Nearby is Snow Canyon State Park.

Mesquite, NV is 90 miles and about 1 1/2 hours to the airport, but Mequite isn't much better than Las Vegas. Mostly casino's.

Utahtea

Hello again.

You might consider staying in St. George, UT. There are a lot of options for hotels/restaurants, and is about a two hour drive to Vegas.

The weather in Southern Utah is completely upredictable. I have seen everything, so prepare for anything. That said, April is a great time to see the Parks.

As Utahtea mentions, it'll probably take you all day to get from Bryce to Moab. On my last trip through that area, I remember leaving Capitol Reef around 8:00 am, hitting Green River around lunch time, and then arriving in Moab early afternoon. Bear in mind that I stopped at Goblin Valley State Park, and had lunch looked in at the museum in Green River along the way. I may have exceeded the speed limit at some points. ;)

You can save some time by taking 70 from Capitol Reef to Moab rather than 24, but that route is less scenic. On your first day, you can just play it by ear - go as far as Bryce and then decide whether you want to keep going to Capitol Reef. Highway 12 between Bryce and Capitol Reef is very curvy, so it takes some time to negotiate. I like to stop at Bryce because sunrise is so nice - this is definitely a "morning" park. Here are some pics from my trips:

http://www.pbase.com/escog/arches
http://www.pbase.com/escog/brycecanyon
http://www.pbase.com/escog/canyonlands
http://www.pbase.com/escog/zion

I-15 to I-70 is the fastest route to take to Arches from LV. Get the AAA Indian Country map, it is the best for traveling in the Four Corners area.
When I go, I normally car camp near Grafton outside of Zion for a day and do some hiking. I have not been there since the trams have opened up. You might check and see how early they start running?
Also, a good day drive is going up on the Hurricane Mesa Deck road that starts in Virgin and ends up on the Kolob Terrace in the park. Not a lot of people, and there are good wild flowers and scenery, but the road is narrow and curvy. The west Kolob entrance to Zion NP off the 15 has some good back country camping if you like that.

If I have a lot of time I usually take Hwy 9/89 east to the Grand Staircase area. The road name is Cottonwood Canyon and it follows the amazing Cockscomb rock formations north. There are tons of hidden canyons to hike here. Some of them are slot canyons. Lots of books on that area. The gravel road takes you north to the back entrance of Bryce NP. There is a truly great State run campground that is at the end of the road called Kodachrome State Park. It’s a mini Arches, with great red rock formations.
The last time I was there they were building a bigger store. It has showers and great campsites.

If you have even more time turn right on Hwy 12 and go up to Calf Creek State Park. I think it is the BEST State park in Utah and the locals don’t want people to know about it. The Calf Creek Fall is unbelievable, along with the hour hike to it. It’s the closest thing I’ve seen to Shangri-La.
Only take Hwy 12 to Canyonland/Arches if the weather and roads are GOOD. There can be snow higher up, so this is probably not the best route for April travel.

Also I’ve posted some excellent interactive National Park maps of Arches and Zion on my web site. These maps have most of the current trails and points of interest on them.
http://www.cccarto.com/wmaps/Arches
http://www.cccarto.com/wmaps/Zion

Good Luck

Mapper,

Those are excellent map links!

Utahtea

Hi All, I have just found this thread and the info is really useful. Thanks!

I am a New Zealander and have been living in Georgia for the last couple of years, and it is well past time I saw the more beautiful bits of the US. I am flying into Salt Lake City on April 7th for 4 days, and was keen to head down to the Moab region or the Bryce/Zion area. From the postings above it seems I shouldnt try to do both. Which area would people suggest? Should I rule out Moab because of the Jeep festival?

Thanks for your help!

Nick

I agree that you should only try to one area from SLC. Both areas look like they'll take about the same amount of time from SLC, though I haven't done the route myself.

In general, the Jeep guys keep on the 4x4 trails in the area, so you shouldn't run into them too much in the parks, though they'll be all over Moab. I imagine that the campsites and lodgings fill up a bit during their event.

Last time I was in Moab, there was a Landrover Event going on - lots of Defenders running around town, though I don't think I ran into one in the parks.

Either area should be fine if you plan ahead.

Atl_kiwi

It's a tough choice between two beautiful areas, and you really couldn't go wrong with either. I think I would choose Zions over Moab. Zion's will offer more peace and tranquility, as well as a more diverse landscape. Bryce's NP is much higher in elevation and will be much colder than Zions - but spectacular in any case. Good luck.